@ wazzup: You are assuming that the Big 12 even made that offer, which is simply
hearsay. Were they talking about things? Perhaps; but that offer never even was
made.

BYU on the other hand continues to improve, and they have the
chance this year to make some noise should they finish strong, even a slim
outside chance at the BCS. Next year, if they can keep up the pace, they could
be on track for the new playoffs. Within the MWC, even undefeated , they never
would have gotten that chance (look at Fresno State or Northern Illinois;
undefeated, yet outside most serious BCS conversations, because of weak SOS).

BYU now controls their destiny, and as they continue to improve, in
several years they could even keep their rebroadcasting rights AND get that
coveting spot in a Big Boy Conference. Till then, they'll just need to play
their hardest, and meanwhile Cougar Nation continues to enjoy all the benefits
that BYUtv brings, including rebroadcasting for most football games, as well as
live broadcasting for nearly all other BYU sports, which is a dream come true
for those sports. Hard to improve on that, money or not.

With all due respect to your comment, I think you are missing
the point of BYUtv. Sports do not drive BYUtv but rather the mission of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I would love for BYU to be part of
the Big 12 conference but not for the money. BYU makes plenty enough to support
its own athletic endeavors and I would guess its even near, if not in the top 25
revenue producing universities.

Ryan Teeples said-"BYUtv wants
the membership of the LDS Church and the world at large to come into its house
and see what it has to offer, and athletics is the front door."

I personally believe BYU's football independence is not by accident nor
is it because BYU is not wanted by the big conferences. BYUtv has a far greater
mission than most of us can imagine in the present tense and only time will
expose the wisdom and blessing of BYUtv.

I Believe we have to look
past the worlds definitions of success in terms of money and championships and
view things with an eye focused on hastening the work.

In a fair system, not weighted by conference cachet, an independent BYU with a
great record will probably be eligible for a playoff format. Since the invitees
are supposed to be defined by a rating system, I suspect that BYU will get a
playoff bid before a lot of conference teams would.

Consider Penn
State, who before they joined the BIG, played in major bowls, including Orange,
winning an NC. After joining the BIG, nada. Utah and TCU are also finding the
sledding tough in the PAC12 and Big 12. Even BSU is finding MWC play a little
tougher than before.

BYU would too, but they're not going to be
playing Oregon, USC, UCLA, Stanford, et al. every year. They'll be playing
those teams, but not in a single year.

I maintain that even this
year, the teams they play are not familiar with everything BYU does. In reading
the Wisconsin blogs, for example, while they show respect for BYU, they're
pretty confident they'll win. As Stanford was when they strutted into Salt
Lake.

Bottom line: good publicity and a better change of a playoff
spot as an independent. We'll see, but I like the arrangement.